What if? 2017-18 version

[wade boggs chicken dinner]

Might as well put this in a new thread. NBCSports had time to kill so has an article on Strat-o-Matic simulating the 2017-18 assuming that GH didn't get injured. Results are here: https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/celtics/what-if-gordon-haywards-injury-never-happened-playing-out-celtics-2017-18-season?int

The overall results (I won't spoil) aren't surprising.

I will say that two stats from the replayed season stand out: GH would have shot 46.1% from 3P range, and JT would have ended up leading the NBA in 3P% at 56.1%. I'm guessing that JT standing in the corner in Brad's offense gets him a lot of open corner 3s.

I know we all think that season would have a been a ton of fun to watch (I can remember some of the pre-season threads). Alas . . . .

 

[lovegtm]

Might as well put this in a new thread. NBCSports had time to kill so has an article on Strat-o-Matic simulating the 2017-18 assuming that GH didn't get injured. Results are here: https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/celtics/what-if-gordon-haywards-injury-never-happened-playing-out-celtics-2017-18-season?int

The overall results (I won't spoil) aren't surprising.

I will say that two stats from the replayed season stand out: GH would have shot 46.1% from 3P range, and JT would have ended up leading the NBA in 3P% at 56.1%. I'm guessing that JT standing in the corner in Brad's offense gets him a lot of open corner 3s.

I know we all think that season would have a been a ton of fun to watch (I can remember some of the pre-season threads). Alas . . . .

Kyrie and Gordon are both happy because they're the alphas, JT and JB are contractually obligated to stay happy for 8-9 years, everyone wins.......

The Celtics got so royally luck-fucked.

 

[Light-Tower-Power]

Are the Jays as good as they are today if they didn't get forced into larger roles with Hayward's injury and rough recovery year? There are so many twists and turns to the Gordon Hayward what if. As far as 2017-2018 goes, the Celtics would've cruised through the EC playoffs with healthy Kyrie and healthy Hayward, and the Finals series against GS would've been epic. I know talking about intangibles like toughness and "heart" is generally BS, but that team had it. I could've seen them stealing one in GS and running over GS at the Garden. That squad had a ton of fight.

 

[DJnVa]

I still think Kyrie was going to bolt--that just seems in his nature. But those 2 years might have been completely different until he did.

Today's team (and we can't *really* do this) might still have an ascendant JT and JB, but with a happier Hayward here....and someone else running point.

 

[Cesar Crespo]

Today's team (and we can't *really* do this) might still have an ascendant JT and JB, but with a happier Hayward here....and someone else running point.

Why not Kemba? Or did you just mean anyone other than Kyrie?

 

[benhogan]

Why not Kemba? Or did you just mean anyone other than Kyrie?

Hayward would have been happy to stay if he didn't have to be the 4th banana behind Jays + Kemba.

Kyrie screwed us then Danny hit the panic button with Kemba (I know many don't agree w/me on this)

 

[Cesar Crespo]

Hayward would have been happy to stay if he didn't have to be the 4th banana behind Jays + Kemba.

Kyrie screwed us then Danny hit the panic button with Kemba (I know many don't agree w/me on this)

but if Kyrie left, Danny would have still hit the panic button on Kemba. Although maybe Hayward's 2 prior years of play also played into that.

 

[DJnVa]

Why not Kemba? Or did you just mean anyone other than Kyrie?

Yeah---I have no idea if we still go after Kemba---we wanted him as the 3rd banana with JT and JB. If we have those 2 and a healthy Hayward, maybe we don't need to do that.

 

[Devizier]

Kyrie screwed us then Danny hit the panic button with Kemba (I know many don't agree w/me on this)

One thing to keep in mind is that the Celtics needed to sign someone lest they lose cap flexibility.

 

[benhogan]

One thing to keep in mind is that the Celtics needed to sign someone lest they lose cap flexibility.

Agreed. We threw around player names at the time. There were plenty of different player combinations available.

Kemba wasn't the only option, it was the course Danny took, there was no "cap" gun pointed at his head.

 

[BigSoxFan]

Agreed. We threw around player names at the time. There were plenty of different player combinations available.

Kemba wasn't the only option, it was the course Danny took, there was no "cap" gun pointed at his head.

What were the names besides Brogdon and Kemba? Having trouble recalling the others.

 

[benhogan]

What were the names besides Brogdon and Kemba? Having trouble recalling the others.

no need to send people into a tizzy.

needless to say 4yr MAX wasn't Danny's only option, it could have been carved up a dozen different ways

since Danny tried to unload him last Fall, I'd say he had buyers remorse

 

[NomarsFool]

I was thinking back that a few years ago the team had:

Al Horford
Kyrie Irving
Gordon Hayward
Jaylen Brown
Jason Tatum
Marcus Smart

That is a heck of a lot of talent, actually.

 

[BigSoxFan]

I was thinking back that a few years ago the team had:

Al Horford
Kyrie Irving
Gordon Hayward
Jaylen Brown
Jason Tatum
Marcus Smart

That is a heck of a lot of talent, actually.

And Rozier, MaMo, Baynes, and Theis...